INTRODUCTION:Thiruparamkundram
or Paramkundru , a hill near
Madurai, in Tamilnadu - South India, is the first and foremost
temple of Lord Muruga in India and is the first
Aarupadai Veedu
as well.
Saint poet Nakkerar, in his songs in praise of
Lord Senthil Andavar, places Thiruparamkundram in the first place amongst
the six battle places (
Arupadaiveedu
) that Lord Muruga has fought to win over evil.

The Other five Temples
in the Arupadai Veedu sung by Nakkeerar
are:
1.Tiruchendur
2.Palani
3.Swamimalai
4.Tiruthani and
5.Palamudhircholai
A few Murugan devotees do consider that Marudamalai
Murugan temple also deserves to be mentioned as one additional
Padai Veedu.

The various names of the presiding deity include Subramanya and Subramanya Swamy.

LEGEND / PURANA :
Nakeerar, in his Tamil writings
compilation called Thirumurugatruppadai,
more than 2000 years ago, and saint Poet Arunagirinaathar,
who has composed Thirupugazh verses on Murugan, have both sung in great
praise of Lord Subramanya of Thiruparamkundram. This place is considered to be the holy spot
where Lord Muruga's celestial marriage took place.Saint Poet Nakkeerar composed his great literary work
Thirumurugatrupadai
in this divine place. The story goes that he was imprisoned in a cellar
by a demon and Lord Muruga came to the rescue of the poet Nakkerar, on hearing the songs composed.

MYTHOLOGY OF THIRUPARAMKUNDRAM:
Lord Muruga is said to have married Indiran's daughter
Deivayanai
, in this holy place. Deivaynai, the daughter of Indira, as mythology goes,
was brought by Iravatham in the Devalokam.
Also, it was predestined that Murugan would marry Deivayanai ( Devanai or Deivayani)
at this sacred place. The marriage was witnessed by
Lord Shiva, Goddess Parvathi, Lord Vishnu, Lord Brahma
and many other Hindu Gods and Hindu Goddesses

The marriage took place after Lord Subrahmanya vanquished the arrogant
demon Soorapadman in the battle at
Tiruchendur.

LOCATION OF THE TEMPLE / CITY:
The temple is situated just five kilometers in the South-east direction of
Madurai, abutting the main railway line. See below for associated websites
and other links on where to stay and details on the tour operators who package
Madurai in their itinerary.

TEMPLE PRECINCTS:
The temple is located in the northern side of the hill. Before the gopuram,
Sundara Pandiya Mandapam and Asthana Mandapam
are located. The idols depicting the marriage of Lord Muruga with Deivayanai
is gratifying. The sculptors bring the idols to real life with their exquisite
carvings. The temple hall houses idols depicting the excellent sculpturing
skills include those of Elephants, tigers, tiger hunting etc. Twenty pillars
made of stone, each 48 feet in height add a touch of class to this temple.
The Rajagopuram and the Kalyana mandapam are just ahead of this hall. On the
western side, one can identify the Lakshmi Theertham and on the western side
is the
Brahma Koopam
( also called Saniyasi Kinaru). Water from the Brahma Koopam is used for the
Abhishekam of Lord Subrahmanya Swamy.

In front of the Dwajasthambam or the Kodi Maram, one gets the magnificiently
carved Nandi, Mayil and the Mouse ( the vehicle of Lord Ganesha). This is a
specialty of this Murugan shrine.Going inside, one can see the sannidhis of
various Hindu Gods and Hindu Goddesses. Of special mention is the sannidhi of
Saneeswaran
without the other eight Grahas. Climbing a flight of six steps called the
"Shadashara Padigal"
, one reaches the Artha Mandapam. One gets to see the rock carvings of
Mahisshasura Mardini, Karpaga Vinayagar, Andarabaranar and
Uggirar.
There is also a rock carved sannidhi for Lord Vishnu and Goddess Lakshmi.
Shiva in the form Sivalingam and
Sathiyagireeshwarar sannidhis
located here cannot miss the attention of the Muruga Bakthas visiting this Murugan shrine.

Sage Narada is believed to have received the blessing of the Lord here.

SANCTUM SANCTORUM :
The Moolavar deity is also sculptured from a rock. Abhishekams for the presiding
deity is done to the Murugan's Vel only.

The main lord of swami malai - affectionately called as
Swaminadha - is 6 feet tall with broad shoulders holding
sakthi vel and dhandam(staff). Instead of Mayil Vahanam or
the peacock vehicle,
Elephant
is depicted as the vahana
(divine vehicle) in front of the lord. This feature is very unique,
not available in any other temples of Lord Muruga.

IMBIBE THE SPIRIT OF MURUGA BAKTHI (Devotion to Lord Muruga) - IN YOUR KIDS !
Many of those who migrated
away from India, be it the early settlers in South Africa or
the tech-savvy migrants to US - the first generation who have
lord Murugan in their hearts find it difficult to pass on this
spiritual shield to their children who grow up in alien lands.

With well researched contents, covering vital details like
spiritual significance of the place, legends, puranas, history,
festivals and spiritual events, this CD ROM presents a
detailed coverage of the temple premises. It also exquisitely brings
to life, many pujas and utsavams of Lord Karthikeya - like...

- Thiruparamkundram : Soora Samharam, Chariot Festival and Laksha archana (worship to Lord Muruga by hundred thousand names)
- Thiruchendur : Swing Festival (Oonjal Sevai - where Lord Muruga swings with his consort in a highly tranquill atmosphere)
- Palani : The Golden Chariot Festival (A very famous occation in which golden image of the Lord goes around the temple in Gold Plated Chariot)
- Swamimalai : The Soora Vahana Festival (Lord Muruga is seated above the Asura Soorapadhman and is taken around the temple)
- Thiruthani : Mirror Festival (Kannadi Sevai - where the Lord's Six faces are exposed through a mirror and worshipped)
- Pazhamudhircholai : Bathing Festival (Abhishekam - where the Lord's image is bathed in several holy waters, amidst the veda chanting - Sri Rudhram and Chamakam)

Such rare footages produce spiritual ecstasy in one's mind, even if they are
viewed repeatedly !

Peace and tranquility are the possible benefits of viewing the CD contents - be it in
a group during small functions or alone- in solitude in the
background of darkness. For kids- it will be as much fun as
watching the cartoons - if only the parents take time to explain
the CD contents to their kids with some interest.

HISTORY OF THE TEMPLE:
About 1200 years before, the Pandiya Kings constructed a great part
of the temple precincts and temple walls. The
Madurai Nayakar King Veerappar, Raja Thirumalai
and
Queen Mangammal
are known to have patronized this temple and generously contributed
towards temple maintenance.

HOLY WATER TANKS (THEERTHAMS):
There are five Theerthams or divine water sources, in and around the temple.
They are :
· Saravana Poigai,
· Lakshmi Theertham
· Saniyasi Kinaru( well)
· Kasi Sunai and
· Sathiya Koopam

The Saravanai Poigai, located at the foot of the hill is believed to have been created by Lord Subrahmanya himself using his Vel.
A glimpse of the Saravana Poigai is beautifully videographed in the multimedia
CD Rom titled -
Arupadaiveedu - A Multimedia ecstasy
a CD ROM / VCD on Muruga by
Cybervalley Systems
, India. (http://www.cybervalleysystems.com)

TEMPLE TIMINGS AND DAILY POOJA:
Daily pujas to the deities are performed six times a day (six kalams). Forenoon : Ushat Kalam, Kalasandhi and Uchikala poojas are performed in the and the afternoon poojas commencing from Sayaratchai and Rendam kalam are concluded with Arthajama pooja in the night.